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The Rich Task Curriculum

A Rich Task describes the curriculum that will be taught and defines the set of learning areas/skills to be developed throughout the unit. This is a trans-disciplinary curriculum that replaces the teaching of Social Studies, Science and Technology as separate areas of study. A Rich Task will culminate in an explicit quality project, product or performance that displays the children’s knowledge, understanding and skills.

Traditionally schools map curriculum coverage through predetermined cyclic planning. Winchester’s Rich Task Curriculum is retrospective. The Rich Task Curriculum is developed through whole staff selection of the broad topics for the following year after reflecting on previous Rich Tasks.

Principles

To be “rich” a task exhibits the following principles -


  • Explicit quality demonstration; a way of clearly showing that children have learned something significant.
  • Connected; connected to life and the world in a relevant and meaningful way for children. In an authentic context suitable to the particular age group.
  • Academic Engagement; narrow focus representing deep knowledge. Intellectual rigour and quality thinking.
  • Trans-disciplinary Curriculum: integrity of each discipline is maintained with authentic links between disciplines.
  • Multifaceted; use a repertoire of practices representing quality teaching (pedagogy).
  • Culmination; the end point must be clearly communicated to children so they understand the purpose for developing the skills and knowledge and the intended audience.
  • Creativity




Planning

There will be one Rich Task in each of the first three terms. At least two of the Rich Tasks will be school wide. Teams will interpret the tasks to suit their needs.
Backward mapping will be used to determine the skills, knowledge, audience and teaching methods required to achieve the Rich Task. Rich Task planning will be recorded on the Winchester proforma.
There will be an ICT component in all Rich Tasks.
Ecology of Learning tracking sheets will be used to show coverage of the Winchester School Pedagogy via Thinking Skills, Habits of Mind and Multiple Intelligences.
Teachers fill out their own class monitoring sheets then teams will interpret the combined evidence and record findings on the Evaluation Report Form. This form will be given to the Principal.